Beijing-Tianjin All-In-One Card, valid both in Beijing and Tianjin, has been in use since August, 2008. Card-holders from Tianjin enjoy the same price discount as the local passengers in Beijing. The card provides great convenience for people commuting between the two cities.

Beijing and Tianjin, two neighboring metropolises, have always been the focus of attention in the aspect of economic development of North China. Beijing is defined to be capital of the country, an international city, a famous cultural city and a livable city; and in 2006, the State Council defined Tianjin as an international port city, the economic center of North China and an eco-city on endorsing Tianjin City General Plan.

On August 1, 2008, Beijing-Tianjin Inter-City Express Railway, the country’s first world-class inter-city express railway with China’s own intellectual property rights, was brought into operation. Connected by the express railway, the two metropolises of Beijing and Tianjin are developing towards agglomeration and integration with each other, making it possible for people to commute regularly between the two cities.

In order to accelerate the integration of Beijing and Tianjin and make it convenient for people to travel between the two cities, Beijing-Tianjin All-In-One Card is issued in the joint effort of Tianjin and Beijing. The card-holders are able to enjoy the card service and the same price discount in the card-valid services in both cities.

On August 7, 2008, Beijing-Tianjin All-In-One Card was launched. At eight o’clock in the morning, there was a long queue of more than twenty residents waiting outside a post office in Heping District to get one of the cards. Many of them are Tianjin residents who commute to Beijing on a regular basis. Xiao Liu, who works in Beijing while living in Tianjin, has to commute between the two cities frequently. It used to take him a long time to transit among public bus, underground and taxi. Beijing-Tianjin All-In-One Card makes it convenient and economical for him to pay: 60 percent discount for Beijing urban bus service, two yuan for any single trip by underground, 5 percent discount for Tianjin urban bus service, 5 percent discount for light rail.

Tianjin Urban All-In-One Card Co., Ltd. and Beijing Urban Transport All-In-One Card Co., Ltd. have issued Beijing-Tianjin All-In-One card in joint efforts. As a result, residents of the two cities are able to enjoy each other’s urban transport networks with the card. Card-holders can access recharge service at any recharge station established by either companies, and it is convenient for them to travel between the two cities to watch matches and tour the cities. This service will benefit regional economic development and economic integration.

According to sources, Tianjin will gradually further expand the scope of the card application to services of parking, toll, news stand, entrance ticket of tourism spots, small food and beverage business, fees for public undertakings and so on so forth. The move will quicken the connection to the services in other areas.